April 2009 Archives

Waiting for the streetcar to arrive.  Sometimes its there quickly, sometimes, it feels like it takes forever.  One of the most frustrating things I see every day is the people in the center lane of Queen Street, waiting for a break in the traffic so that they can turn left, with one or more streetcars stuck behind them.  Why would you ever try to turn left on Queen Street in rush hour?  Go to an intersection with a light, and turn left there, instead.  You'll get to the same streets. 

Warm weather has arrived, and the magnolia trees on our street are starting to blossom.  Yay!

Is he playing basketball, or soccer? I wonder what a combination of both would look like.  Regardless, it's wonderful to have warm weather again.

I love the customization job.  At least he's wearing a helmet - even if it looks weird.

A window washer at work on John Street, cleaning the windows on a sunny spring day. Oh, I'm looking forward to warmer weather and less rain.

We found another old diner sign on Queen Street - this time out in the Beach area.  I have to remember to go back in the evening, and get a shot of it when it's lit up.

I loved this mural on the side of an IGA in The Beach at Queen and Lee.  It's a gorgeous example of the sort of thing that makes a city seem vital and alive.  I like seeing street art on the sides of buildings, rather than have them be just plain.  However, I hate seeing art like this defaced by someone tagging over top of it.

We took a photowalk in the Beaches this weekend.  The R.C. Harris Water Treatment plant is a gorgeous piece of architecture for a utility building.  The view is amazing - and it would make a fabulous mansion, according to my fiance.  It has a wonderful, turn of the 20th century feel to it.

This busker came up with a somewhat unique way to attract attention.  He's really quite good at getting things to balance on each other.  We sat and watched him for a few minutes, and it seems to take a lot of his concentration to place each piece. 

She's in a hurry, but she's got a fabulous bag. 

I think he'd taken the seat off while he got a coffee, and now he's trying to put the seat back on.  It can't be easy to keep your bike from being stolen in this city, although I imagine that it's easier now that the most popular place to (allegedly) sell stolen bikes seems to be shut down.  I wonder what this summer is going to be like for bikers.

Braving traffic in one of these would not be my cup of tea.  It looks like a lot of fun to ride, but I'd want to be taller and more visible in the busy Queen Street traffic that this guy was braving.

I saw this guy at the top of the stairs to Osgoode Station, making a call before he gets on the subway, I'd guess. 

He likes his muffin - so much so that he's decided to wear it on his face. 

Wonder what he's waiting for - maybe warmer weather so that it won't be so cold to ride his bike.

Happy dog at Queen and Shuter.

I dunno what they were so intent on, but these two were deep in conversation as I passed by.

There's an alleyway off of Queen Street where artists are welcome to paint, and I love capturing some of the results.

Spring is normally a gray, rainy affair, so it was nice to have a warm, sunny day in the middle of it.  These two broke out the shades to cope with the unaccustomed light.

Streetcar at Queen and Broadview

Standing on the ventilation grates at City Hall. 

Taken on Queen Street at Yonge.  How does this make you feel?

Looks like a new tag has been added to the wall beside the parking lot at Renfrew and McCaul.  I wonder how many layers of paint are on these walls?

It's not every day that you find someone playing the accordion for tips on Queen Street West.  More power to him, I say.